Blueberries-You're Just Too Good To Be True

After beginning my high bush blueberry pruning session (how long is this process going to take?) I reached into my freezer and got out a package of my berries from last fall's harvest. Letting them thaw so that I can make blueberry muffins! YUM!

That got me thinking, I know that blueberries are "good for you" but what exactally does that look like? I started poking around for some solid nutritional benefits of this seemingly perfect fruit. Blueberries have about 80 calories per cup and practically no fat. In one serving you get 14 mg of vitamin C which is almost 25% of your daily requirement. Blueberries are packed with fiber therfore a handful of them is a delicious way to add just a little more fiber into your diet. Who couldn't use a little more natural fiber? Blueberries also contain manganese (which is important for bone development as well as converting fats, proteins and carbohydrates into energy) and they stand head and shoulders above most other foods when it comes to the power of antioxidants~ and we all want to make sure that we are fighting those free radicals that can damage our bodies. Above all else...they are a delightful little berry and they really want to be a part of my blueberry muffins!

~Enjoy!


                                           Blueberry Bran Muffins


1 1/2 cups wheat bran
1 cup nonfat milk
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 egg
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup all- purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup blueberries


Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease muffin cups or use paper liners. Mix together wheat bran and milk. Let stand for 10 minutes.

In a large bowl, mix together applesauce, egg, brown sugar and vanilla. Beat in bran mixture. Sift together all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Stir into bran mixture until just blended. Fold in blueberries. Fill cups 2/3 full.

Bake in a preheated oven for 15-20 minutes. The tops will spring back when touched.


                                    1 muffin=100 calories--- 0.9 g. total fat---18 mg. cholesterol